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airport were still under construction. The area in the northwest part of the field on which work was being done was marked off by temporary white boundary lights.[1] The Director and Executive Officer for the Board of Park Commissioners of the City of Wichita stated at the hearing that he expected that the northwest-southeast runway would be completed within 90 days.
On take-offs toward the southeast it was necessary to take off from the sod surface paralleling the incompleted northwest-southeast paved runway. The distance from the west end of the loading ramp to the southeast boundary of the airport, along Captain Boqua's intended take-off path, was in excess of 3400 feet, which would allow him the maximum usable distance for take-off toward the southeast. The distance from the point where the Braniff airplane was parked to the boundary of the airport along the same take-off path was 2850 feet. The terrain used for take-offs to the southeast is covered with a heavy sod and is sufficiently firm to accommodate heavily loaded aircraft under conditions existing on the date of the accident.
A comprehensive set of rules and regulations had been promulgated on September 12, 1940, by the City of Wichita to control traffic on and in the vicinity of the airport. Rule 11 provided:
"No take-offs are to be started from the taxi strip or ramp adjacent to buildings, or within 300 feet therefrom."
The Superintendent of Maintenance and Operation of the airport testified, however, that the enforcement of this rule had been relaxed in the interest of safety during the period of construction. It seems clear
- ↑ See map facing page 11.
